Taking a year off before LS, just got my LSAT score. From LA and went to UCLA. My LOR should be outstanding, my ECs are nothing special.

Right now my short list is Stanford, Berk, Harvard. I would like to go to a prestigious law school, preferably in CA and try and receive some sort of merit aid. Other than that, I am completely open. Are there any good schools out there in the country that might be a good match? Give out lots of merit aid? I am open to any and all help. Thanks so much!

Boalt has a matching program, where they *might* match a scholarship you get from a comparable school (there's a list of T-14 schools they look at). They're not very open about the selection process for matching scholarships, but I know it's been quite selective/hard to predict in the past.

Some lower-ranked CA schools like San Diego or USC would probably be generous with aid--might be a good option if you're sure that you want to stay in CA.

If you are looking for merit aid at top schools, think about Michigan (Darrow) and Columbia (Hamilton). I think the Hamilton is typically for 175+ scorers, though. Michigan is less numbers-based about the Darrow selection. Duke also has a number of full-tuition Mordecai scholarships. All of those should be eligible for the matching award from Boalt.

romothesavior wrote:Either Chapman or killself for making such a stupid thread.

Seriously, these threads are absolutely horrible. You have a 173 and a 4.03 and you want to practice in California and need help with where to apply? You're either a flame or a moron.

TBF him having a 173/4.03 doesn't really change the fact a person can find this info themselves. Anyone who isn't retarded has the same ability to read other threads, and law school number.

Why chastise the 173/4.03 but not the 160/3.6?

A couple of reasons... The 160/3.6 probably needs to be told things like "retake or go to the cheapest school in the area you want to practice." Or perhaps someone with a higher LSAT and GPA (say, 3.75/168 like myself) is looking for info on a specific region, where to ED, what schools will give lots of scholarship money, etc. Things are more complicated if you don't have a 4.0/173+. And I know you didn't mention them, but splitters and URMs are a special breed and often could use the help of people who have been through it before. So no, it is not the same thing.

OP: You want to go to a prestigious school in California. How's Stanford sound? You're pretty much a lock as long as you can string together coherent sentences in your PS and you aren't convicted of double murder and child molestation.

Yeah Stanford seems like the obvious choice- just don't want to get straddled down with sticker price there. I plan on going into clerkship / gov so debt is a concern.Will try to get some $ from Berk with the advice from above. Thanks for the help

sergeantpzr wrote:Yeah Stanford seems like the obvious choice- just don't want to get straddled down with sticker price there. I plan on going into clerkship / gov so debt is a concern.Will try to get some $ from Berk with the advice from above. Thanks for the help

romothesavior wrote:OP: You want to go to a prestigious school in California. How's Stanford sound? You're pretty much a lock as long as you can string together coherent sentences in your PS and you aren't convicted of double murder and child molestation.

romothesavior wrote:OP: You want to go to a prestigious school in California. How's Stanford sound? You're pretty much a lock as long as you can string together coherent sentences in your PS and you aren't convicted of double murder and child molestation.

I want to eventually become a judge or work for the AG's office, have some government job. Big law is too many hours, I don't think its for me.

I have very little money on me now, as a recent college grad and all, will be completely on my own for law school.

Not much of a risk taker especially with debt, otherwise I would just apply to the T6 and some safeties and pick the best one.

Which T14 to choose, well that's why I made the thread. Unfortunately CA only has Stanford and Berk, I will apply to UCLA but I would much rather try out another campus for awhile. I thought maybe some people would have some magic schools that would typically offer $ to someone in my shoes.

sergeantpzr wrote:I want to eventually become a judge or work for the AG's office, have some government job. Big law is too many hours, I don't think its for me.

I have very little money on me now, as a recent college grad and all, will be completely on my own for law school.

Not much of a risk taker especially with debt, otherwise I would just apply to the T6 and some safeties and pick the best one.

Which T14 to choose, well that's why I made the thread. Unfortunately CA only has Stanford and Berk, I will apply to UCLA but I would much rather try out another campus for awhile. I thought maybe some people would have some magic schools that would typically offer $ to someone in my shoes.

CA is full of TTT schools, so Stanford, Berk, UCLA, and USC are your best bets. But seriously, you have ridiculously good numbers and should shoot higher than USC/UCLA, and Berk is really friggen expensive and I don't think you should take it over HYS under any circumstance.

If you want to be a judge, clerk, or work in a big city AG office or government position, then HYS are your targets.

Not sure if you'd be interested, but Penn would probably give you a full ride (along with Michigan), and you may be able to then leverage that at Berk/Stanford into more aid. Yes, I know they don't give much or any merit, but they may give more need based than otherwise in this case.

First apply too a bunch of schools and then based on where you get in make this thread again.

Based on your career goals you should go to the best school you get into. You might not want to do biglaw but for your career goals it seems likely that you'll have to do a stint in biglaw.

Top gov't positions aren't readily open to newly grads and clerkships are extremely tough to get (you can't just plan on doing one).

Furthermore your career goals are very ambitious and those positions (AG/Judge) are not jobs you can just get through merit--people have to help you get there. And people are more likely to help those they know personally--and biglaw is one of the easier ways of getting your name out there and meet people who can help your career.